Villas have changed over the years. It may have started as self-sufficient
upper-class dwellings in rural areas back in the ancient Roman times,
but in Southeast Asia (which includes the Philippines), villas often
denote holiday homes, and often with swimming pools, located in
islands such as Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand, Bali and Lombok in
Indonesia, Langkawi in Malaysia, and our very own Palawan and
Boracay. It is probably everyone’s dream to have place to rest and
relax for a couple of days, and if you are one of them, here are some
information on where you can start with your building or decorating
project:

Where
are the best locations to build a villa in the Philippines?

The
Philippines is probably one of the best places to invest in a
resthouse or holiday house. Aside from the country’s laidback
culture, it is also abundant in suitable locations for your holiday
hideaway. You only have 7,107 islands to choose from! But, among the
best locations include Palawan, which is considered as the world’s
best island because of its soft white sands and crystal clear waters.
Siargao, which is an up-and-coming destination and less commercial,
is also great for people who love to surf. However, if highlands are
more your thing, Tagaytay and Baguio are great options. Apart from
being beautiful locations, the prices of properties in these areas
always appreciate, making your purchase truly a good investment.

How
much is a villa in the Philippines?

As
with any type of housing, the cost of buying or building properties
in the Philippines depend on the size, the style, materials used, and
the location. Location is one of the most important factors and the
price can start from 500,000 pesos or one million pesos to as high as
600 million pesos. Beachfronts are always prime locations and can
cost a bit more than lots located somewhere else in the island or
province. In Palawan’s capital, Puerto Princesa City, lot prices
start at 3,000 pesos per square meters. However, if you go to famous
vacation spots such as El Nido and Coron (the two locations that made
Palawan famous), then prices are way higher, with some lots going for
16,000 pesos per square meters.

What
are the pros and cons of having a villa?

While
villas are synonymous to luxury and relaxation, there are many things
to consider before to finally sign that deed of sale. The pros, of
course, include having a holiday home to go to everytime. That way,
you don’t need to spend money on always renting accommodations. You
can also rent your property when it is not in use. Prices for this
type of property most likely will never decrease. However, one of the
cons is maintainance. If you want to commit to having your very own
hideaway, make sure you have the budget to pay for its maintenance or
caretakers who can stay there and take care of the house for you
while you are away.

How
much is it to rent a villa in the Philippines?

If
buying is not an option, you can always rent one for short term.
Again, the prices depend on where it is located. There are a lot of
websites that lists down properties you can rent such as Airbnb or
Booking.com. There is also the Southeast Asia-based website The Luxe
Nomad, which offers discounted rates for homes in countries such as
Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and, of course, the
Philippines. Based on prices from these sites, the price starts at
3,000 pesos per night for mid-level locations such as La Union or
Batangas to as high as 50,000 for Palawan homes.

How
can homify help me with my villa project?

If
you are planning to build or decorate your house, homify can help.
Our website, which is available in over 30 countries, features
thousands and thousands of home and architecture professionals,
who are ready to answer your questions via our free consultation page. Not only that, you can also browse countless pictures, which
you can save in an ideabook, so you can always come back to it. Our
magazine is also a good resource for tips and tricks.